Homer boys, girls to tip off basketball season on Dec. 14

March Madness will get off to a December start for the Homer boys' and girls' basketball teams. Both squads will tip off their 2017-18 seasons next week when they compete in area tournaments

Homer will be among several area teams competing in the Soldotna Tip-Off Classic on Dec. 14-16. The Mariners begin their season with a first-round matchup with rival Seward. The game is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 p.m.

Homer will face Service on Friday, before closing out the tournament the following day against Eielson. The Mariners' first home appearance of the season will come on Jan. 23 against Nikiski.

The Lady Mariners will also be in action on Dec. 14-16 by participating in the Kenai River Classic. The HHS girls' first game will be a 5 p.m. showdown with Soldotna. They will play Eielson at 3 p.m. on Friday, before finishing the tournament the following day against Kenai Central at 4 p.m.

The 2017-18 season will continue through March. On March 8-10, Homer will join other teams in competing in the Southcentral Conference Tournament in Houston.